To the editor:
I write to express my great appreciation for Sunday morning’s front-page article on the ICE raid—the “Big Eddie” story.
It is so important that the human damage and destruction from these raids and this regime be brought to light.
What do the area representatives say about these raids? U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik? U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney? State Assemblyman William Barclay?
I grew up in Oswego County. I left in 1964. Back then, I knew it to be one of the least progressive counties and almost entirely white. That is, without recognition of the very large and somewhat transitory migrant labor force, the people who will pick all those crops in the western part of the county. It is encouraging to read that help came for all four corners of the county, where Sheriff Don Hilton supports President Donald Trump but the local Department of Social Services helps with the human toll.
I have taught constitutional law at SUNY Oswego and at the law school level and find this complete lack of due process extremely disturbing. To paraphrase what we have all heard about the Nazi to power: First, they came for the refugees . . . and I did nothing.
Our democracy is under attack. And as Thomas Jefferson is often credited as saying: “When injustice is the law, resistance is our duty.”
Thanks, and please keep this up.
Joe Heath
Preble, N.Y.
